29 Series · SOC 29-1243

Pediatric Surgeons Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$559,030
Median / year
$726,660
Top 10% earn
+1.5%
Growth '23–'33
1,190
US workers

Pediatric Surgeons earn a median of $559,030 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $559,030, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $215,410 (10th percentile) to $726,660 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,190 US workers. Ohio pays the most ($488,160), since pay varies by state and metro area.

29 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Pediatric Surgeons earn a median of $559,030, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 99% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #1 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.5% by 2033.

$559,030
Median annual wage
Top 1%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#1 of 71
in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
3.4×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Ohio at $488,160. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.

Pediatric Surgeons (SOC 29-1243) pays a national median of $559,030 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $215,410 at the 10th percentile to $726,660 at the 90th, with a mean of $502,050 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 1,190 Americans work in this occupation across 3 reporting states and 1 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree and internship/residency of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Ohio pays the highest state median at $488,160, which is 13% below the national figure. The top metro is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $293,440 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,190 jobs Median $559,030/yr

Median Salary

$559,030

per year

Median Hourly

$268.76/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$502,050

average

Employment

1,190

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Pediatric Surgeons pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$559,030 Top 1% higher than 99% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Below this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Below this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). This entry sits in this band. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Pediatric Surgeons; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Pediatric Surgeons sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $559,030 median pay.

Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Pediatric Surgeons sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $559,030 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$200000$400000$600000 0%10%20%30%40%50% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Pediatric Surgeons sits on the slower-growing side at +1.5% growth and $559,030 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.5%

Slower than average

Typical Education

Doctoral or professional degree

On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.7/100K

Injury Rate

1.5/100

Danger Index

6.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Pediatric Surgeons roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
  • ▸ Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.
  • ▸ Consult with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.
  • ▸ Describe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.
  • ▸ Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
  • ▸ Examine fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnose health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.
  • ▸ Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
  • ▸ Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
  • ▸ Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.
  • ▸ Inform parents and guardians of child's health problems and surgical procedures through various channels, such as in-person and telecommunication systems.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$215,410$336,380$559,030$583,200$726,660
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$103.56$161.72$268.76$280.38$349.35
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$215,410

25th Percentile

$336,380

Median

$559,030

75th Percentile

$583,200

90th Percentile

$726,660

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Ohio $488,160 2. New York $378,110 3. New Jersey $288,930

Lowest Paying States

-1. New Jersey $288,930 0. New York $378,110 1. Ohio $488,160
View all 3 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Ohio $488,160 13% below national
2 New York $378,110 32% below national
3 New Jersey $288,930 48% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $293,440

Lowest Paying Metros

-3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $293,440
View all 1 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $293,440 48% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.

Acupuncturists

SOC 29-1291

Anesthesiologists

SOC 29-1211

Athletic Trainers

SOC 29-9091

Audiologists

SOC 29-1181

Cardiologists

SOC 29-1212
Compare Pediatric Surgeons side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Pediatric Surgeons make? ▼
The median annual salary for Pediatric Surgeons is $559,030 ($268.76/hour). The salary range spans from $215,410 at the 10th percentile to $726,660 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Pediatric Surgeons the most? ▼
Ohio pays the highest median salary for Pediatric Surgeons at $488,160/year, which is 13% below the national median.
What education do you need to become a Pediatric Surgeons? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Pediatric Surgeons is Doctoral or professional degree. On-the-job training: Internship/residency.
How dangerous is being a Pediatric Surgeons? ▼
Pediatric Surgeons has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Pediatric Surgeons a good career? ▼
Employment for Pediatric Surgeons is projected to grow 1.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average.
How does Pediatric Surgeons pay vary by state? ▼
Pediatric Surgeons salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Ohio at $488,160/year, while Ohio pays the least at $488,160/year. BLS data covers 3 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Pediatric Surgeons? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Pediatric Surgeons is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $293,440/year. BLS reports wage data for 1 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Pediatric Surgeons pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $583,200/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Ohio leads at $488,160/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.